Housing for Young People with SEND

Find information on Housing for Young People with SEND.

Page last updated 8th January 2025

This information is for people with a variety of disabilities.

Renting

Renting is when you pay money to live in a house or flat owned by someone else. You are called the tenant. The person who owns the house or flat is called the landlord. The landlord can be a social landlord or a private landlord.

You sign a contract with the landlord. This contract is called a tenancy agreement. It explains what rights you have. This includes how long you can stay.

Renting from a Social landlord

A social landlord is an organisation that gives housing to people who need it most. The rent is low so lots of people want to rent from social landlords.

You have to go on a waiting list. This waiting list is called the housing register. You need to fill in a form to go on the housing register. When you are first on the waiting list you will be offered whatever housing the social landlord has that is good for you. Sutton council is a social landlord. You might have heard of housing associations. Housing associations are another type of social landlord.

You may be able to get money from Sutton council to help pay the rent. This money is called housing benefit. Housing benefit may pay all of your rent or just some of it. If housing benefit does not pay all of your rent then you will have to pay the difference.

Good things about renting from a Social landlord.

It is cheaper than renting from a private landlord.
You can stay in the same house for as long as you want to.

Bad things about renting from a Social landlord.

You may have to wait a long time for housing.
You can not choose where you live.

Renting from a private landlord

A private landlord is a person who makes money by renting housing to people. The rent is higher than social landlords charge but it is easier to find a private landlord. You also have more choice about where you live.

You pay for renting from a private landlord the same way you pay rent to a Social landlord. You can get housing benefit. If housing benefit doesn't pay all of your rent then you will have to pay the difference.

Good things about renting from a private landlord

You do not have to wait long for housing.
You can choose where you want to live.

Bad things about renting from a private landlord

It is more expensive than renting from a Social landlord.
You can be asked to leave once your contract has finished.

Buying your own home

Buying is when you pay for a house or flat and own it. Buying a house or flat can be expensive. You would have to borrow the money from a bank. You then pay a bit of this money back each month for many years. This payment is called a mortgage. You may be able to get benefits to help you pay the mortgage. Your family may also be able to help you with money.

Good things about buying

You own the house or flat.
You can choose where you live.

Bad things about buying

You have to pay to keep the property in good repair.

Shared Ownership

Shared ownership is a mix of renting and buying.

You buy part of a house or flat from a housing association.

You pay the housing association rent for the other part. You would have to get a mortgage to buy part of the house or flat. You may be able to get housing benefit to pay some or all of the rent for the other part. Your family may also be able to help you with money.

Good things about shared ownership

You do not need a big mortgage.
You can choose where you live.

Bad things about shared ownership

You may not want a mortgage.

Supported Living

Supported Living is where you live near other people with learning disabilities. Sometimes this will be in groups of flats. Sometimes this will be in a house where you share a bathroom and kitchen with other people. There are staff on site to help you do the daily things you need to do. You have to pay rent to live in supported living. You may be able to get housing benefit to pay all or your rent or just some of it. If housing benefit does not pay all of your rent then you will have to pay the difference.

Good things about Supported Living

You have someone on site if you need help.
You live near other people with learning disabilities.

Bad things about Supported Living

You may not want to live with other people.
There is not a lot of supported housing in Sutton so you may not be able to live where you want.

Staying in your family home

If you live with your family then you may want to stay in your family home.

If your family own their home they may be able to pass it on to you. This means you would own the house or flat. If you buy the house or flat from your family you would pay a mortgage. You may be able to get benefits to help you pay the mortgage.

Good things about staying in your family home.

You can stay where you are.

Bad things about staying in your family home.

You may want a change.

Package of Care at home

You can receive a package of care from the council to help you live in your own home. This care could help you learn new skills like cooking or cleaning and support you to learn how to manage your money and pay your bills. Other support available could help you find a job. Sutton council may pay for the help.

Good things about supported living.

You can live in your own home.

Shared Lives

Shared Lives carers offer their homes and family life to provide a safe place for people to live, have a short break or engage in day activities. Some carers provide a service to more than one person. You will live in the family home as if you are part of their family. You can still go to work, or day opportunities if you live in Shared Lives. Your Shared Lives carer can support you to do this. They will respect any cultural or religious needs you have, and Carers are often matched to people with similar interests to you. The Council will pay the Shared Lives Carer and you may have to pay a contribution.

The help you can get if you have a Learning Disability

If you have a learning disability you can get help from Sutton Council's learning disabilities team. This team can help you to decide what type of housing and support you need to live as independently as possible. You can also get help from Sutton council's housing centre. This team can help you to decide what housing option is best for you.

You can also get help from family and friends.

Your housing plan

Your Housing Plan will help you decide what type of housing is best for you. Your family, friends or support worker can help you with this plan.

Your current housing: Where do you live? Who do you live with? What is good about where you live? What is bad about where you live?
Your future housing: Do you want to live with other people? Do you work? Do you get any benefits? What benefits do you get?
What housing options do you want to know more about?

Who to contact next

If you have a learning disability and know what housing options you are interested in you can contact Sutton Council to find out more.

You can [email the transition team](mailto: transition.duty@sutton.gov.uk). You can also write to them at Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, SM1 1EA or call them on 020 8770 5511.
You can Sutton Council's housing centre. You can also write to them at Housing Centre, Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, SM1 1EA or call them on 020 8770 6080.
You can also contact Sutton Mencap.

Support from Sutton Council

Usually a referral is made to housing by the Adult Learning Disabilities Team in Social Services. However, there is a very small number of properties dotted around the Borough. These rarely become available.

To apply for supported housing, you need to complete a Universal Referral form. If you would like to complete a referral form, please click here [External Link]. You will need to click "Use template" to edit the referral document.

Applications to the housing register are assessed when received. Your application will depend on how you are currently living and what your needs are. It is unlikely you will be rehoused through the register. It is very small due to the lack of properties becoming available. There are also lots of competing priorities for housing.

Applicants must be 16 to register. You must also have the capacity to understand and sign a tenancy agreement. This cannot be held until the age of 18 without a guarantor.

For more information, visit the Council's website [External Link].

No Place Like Home Guide

No Place Like Home is a Housing and Support booklet. It is there to help people with Learning Disabilities find a housing choice right for them. This booklet has information that supports those with SEND who are thinking about living on their own. It can help you have discussions to prepare you for this.

Download the No Place Like Home booklet here [External Link].

You can also find more information on the LBS Housing Support pages [External Link].